Energy source communication employing slot antenna

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a wireless communication device that is coupled to an energy source, such as a battery, capacitor, or solar cell. The wireless communication device is coupled to a slot in the energy source to form a slot antenna for wireless communication. The slot antenna receives communication signals from an interrogation reader or other communication device. The wireless communication device may be attached to a device or container for purposes such as communicating information regarding identification, manufacturing, tracking, and the like. The wireless communication device may also be coupled to the energy source for power.

This application is a CON of Ser. No. 11/515,154 filed Aug. 31, 2006,which is a CON of Ser. No. 10/422,609 filed Apr. 24, 2003 now U.S. Pat.No. 7,123,204, which claims benefit of 60/375,258 dated Apr. 24, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an energy source communication device andmethod that allows wireless communication of information using theenergy source as a slot antenna.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desired to provide wireless communication on electronicdevices. One example of such an electronic device is known as a personaldigital assistant (PDA). PDAs are small computing devices that are mostoften powered by batteries and can store electronic information, such ascontacts, emails, to-do lists, memos, notes, etc. Many electronicdevices are equipped to communicate wirelessly with other electronicdevices to transfer information. These devices are equipped withinfrared communication ports. Some PDAs require line of sightcommunications that is subject to interference from surrounding lightsources, but others use omni-directional radio-frequency communication.

Radio-frequency communication requires transmission and receptioncircuitry. Often, this circuitry is provided in the form of aradio-frequency identification device (RFID) and antenna. RFIDs arebecoming smaller in size with advances in technology and are thereforeable to be placed in smaller electronic devices. Many electronic devicesprovide enough space to include a RFID, but do not provide sufficientspace for an accompanying antenna. Depending on the RFID operatingfrequency, antenna size varies and can be much greater in size than theRFID. Even if an electronic device provides enough space to include anantenna, designers of such electronic devices are still faced withdesign issues surrounding placement of the antenna.

Therefore, a need exists to provide an easier method of including anantenna for a RFID in an electronic device, and especially in a smallerelectronic device, that conforms to packaging and/or size constraints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that iscoupled to a slot on an energy source to provide a slot antenna forwireless communication. Such wireless communication includesidentification information, manufacturing information, trackinginformation, and the like.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication device is attached to acoin-cell battery. The wireless communication device is coupled to aslot formed by a separator between the positive and negative terminal ofthe battery to form a slot antenna. The wireless communication device isalso attached to the positive and negative terminals of the batteryusing feed lines to provide power to the wireless communication device.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is attached toa coin-cell battery that is essentially the same as the precedingembodiment. However, the wireless communication device only uses asingle feed line to attach the wireless communication device to thepositive terminal for power. The negative power input to the wirelesscommunication device is directly attached to the negative terminal ofthe battery in lieu of using an additional feed line.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is coupled tothe slot of a battery at two different points to form a slot antenna.The coupling of the wireless communication device at more than one feedpoint alters the radiation pattern of the slot antenna.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device uses a feedpoint to couple the wireless communication device to a slot on a batteryto provide a slot antenna. The feed point also acts as a feed line tocouple the wireless communication device to the positive terminal of thebattery for power.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is attached toa cylindrical-shaped battery. The wireless communication device iscoupled to a slot formed by a separator between the positive andnegative terminal of the battery to form a slot antenna. The wirelesscommunication device does not attach to the battery terminals for power.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is placedacross the slot of a battery to provide a slot antenna. Two feed pointsare used to couple the wireless communication device to the battery forpower. One feed point is coupled to the positive terminal of thebattery, and the other feed point is coupled to the negative terminal ofthe battery.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is coupledacross the slot of the battery as in the preceding paragraph. Inaddition, one feed point is coupled to the slot at a different point tochange the effective length of slot for impedance matching and improvedantenna performance.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is attached toa cylindrical-shaped battery. The wireless communication device iscoupled to a slot formed by a separator between the positive andnegative terminal of the battery to form a slot antenna. The wirelesscommunication device is also attached to the battery terminals to powerthe wireless communication device.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is attachedunderneath the sleeve of a battery. The sleeve is placed over the top ofthe body of the battery and the attached wireless communication deviceto encapsulate the wireless communication device to the body. Thewireless communication device is coupled to a slot in the battery toform a slot antenna. Placement of the wireless communication deviceunderneath the sleeve of the battery may be done during manufacture ofthe battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device in theprior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached to a coin-cell battery for power and coupled to a slot on thebattery to form a slot antenna;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached and grounded to a coin-cell battery for power and coupled to aslot on the battery to form a slot antenna;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device havinga combined feed line and feed point to couple the wireless communicationdevice to a slot and to a battery terminal for power;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached to a coin-cell battery for power and coupled to a slot in thebattery at multiple points to form a slot antenna;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device placedacross a slot formed by a battery seal to form a slot antenna;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device placedacross a slot formed by a battery seal to form a slot antenna with onefeed point additionally extending to cross the slot at a second point;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached to a cylindrical-shaped battery and coupled to a slot on thebattery to form a slot antenna;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached to a cylindrical-shaped battery for power and coupled to a sloton the battery at multiple points to form a slot antenna; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication deviceattached underneath a battery sleeve and coupled to a slot on thebattery to form a slot antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device, system and method ofusing an energy source in an electronic device as a slot antenna.Referring now to the drawings in general, and to FIG. 1 in particular,it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose ofdescribing specific embodiments of the present invention and are notintended to limit the invention thereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical wireless communication device andcommunication system in the prior art. The wireless communication device10 is capable of communicating information wirelessly and may include acontrol system 12, a communication electronics 14, a memory 16, and anenergy source 17. The wireless communication device 10 may be aradio-frequency identification device (RFID), but the present inventionis not limited to any particular type of wireless communication device10. The communication electronics 14 is coupled to an antenna 18 forwirelessly communicating information in radio-frequency signals. Thecommunication electronics 14 is capable of receiving a modulatedradio-frequency signal through the antenna 18 and demodulating thesignal into information passed to the control system 12. The antenna 18may be internal or external to the wireless communication device 10.

The control system 12 may be any type of circuitry or processor thatreceives and processes information received by the communicationelectronics 14, such as a micro-controller or microprocessor. Thewireless communication device 10 may also contain memory 16 for storageof information. Such information may include identification, trackingand/or other information desired. The memory 16 may be electronicmemory, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),flash memory, diode, etc., or the memory 16 may be mechanical memory,such as a switch, dip-switch, etc.

The energy source 17 may be any type of energy source to provide powerto the components of the wireless communication device 10, including,but not limited to, a battery, a capacitor, and a solar cell.

Some wireless communication devices 10 are termed “active” devicesmeaning that they receive and transmit data using an energy sourcecoupled to the wireless communication device 10. A wirelesscommunication device may use a battery for power as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,130,602 entitled “Radio frequency data communicationsdevice,” or may use other forms of energy and/or power, such as acapacitor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,603, entitled “Implantablebiosensing transponder.” Both of the preceding patents are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

Other wireless communication devices 10 are termed “passive” devicesmeaning that they do not actively transmit and therefore may not needtheir own energy source for power. One type of passive wirelesscommunication device 10 is known as a “transponder.” A transpondereffectively transmits information by reflecting back a received signalfrom an external communication device, such as an interrogation reader.An example of a transponder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,280,entitled “Frequency diversity transponder arrangement,” incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Another example of a transponder isdescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/678,271, entitled“Wireless Communication Device and Method,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 1 depicts communication between a wireless communication device 10and an interrogation reader 20. The interrogation reader 20 includes aninterrogation communication electronics 22 and an interrogation antenna24. The interrogation reader 20 communicates with the wirelesscommunication device 10 by emitting an electronic signal 26 modulated bythe interrogation communication electronics 22 through the interrogationantenna 24. The interrogation antenna 24 may be any type of antenna thatcan radiate a signal 26 through a field 28 so that a reception device,such as a wireless communication device 10, can receive such signal 26through its own antenna 18. The field 28 may be electromagnetic,magnetic, or electric. The signal 26 may be a message containinginformation and/or a specific request for the wireless communicationdevice 10 to perform a task.

When the antenna 18 is in the presence of the field 28 emitted by theinterrogation reader 20, the communication electronics 14 are energizedby the energy in signal 26, thereby energizing the wirelesscommunication device 10. The wireless communication device 10 remainsenergized so long as the antenna 18 is in the field 28 of theinterrogation reader 20. The communication electronics 14 demodulatesthe signal 26 and sends the message containing information and/orrequest to the control system 12 for appropriate actions. It is readilyunderstood to one of ordinary skill in the art that there are many othertypes of wireless communications devices and communication techniquesthan those described herein, and the present invention is not limited toa particular type of wireless communication device, technique or method.

In one aspect of the present invention, the wireless communicationdevice 10 uses a gap or slot between battery terminals to form a slotantenna for wireless communication. FIGS. 2-10 illustrate variousconfigurations of slots in batteries to provide a slot antenna 18. Thewireless communication device 10 may couple to a slot in the battery toform a slot antenna 18. More information on slot antennas 18 and theiroperation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,711, entitled “Slotantenna device for portable radiophone,” and pending patent applicationSer. No. 09/536,334, entitled “Remote Communication Using Slot Antenna,”both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless communication device 10 coupled to anannular slot 40 in a battery 30 to form a slot antenna 18. The wirelesscommunication device 10 uses the battery 30 to provide power fortransmissions and to power other components of the wirelesscommunication device 10, such as the control system 12, communicationelectronics 14, memory 16, and/or other devices contained in thewireless communication device 10.

FIG. 2 depicts a particular type of battery 30 known as a coin-cellbattery. The battery 30 may a rechargeable battery, including, but notlimited to lithium, Nickel Cadnium (NiCd), Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH).The battery 30 may also be non-rechargeable. The battery 30 may be ofany voltage rating. If the battery 30 is used as an energy source 17 inthe wireless communication device 10, the battery 30 must be of theproper voltage to provide power to the wireless communication device 10and/or its components or an additional voltage-regulating device must beprovided in the wireless communication device 10. For example, anadditional rectifier may be included to decrease the battery 30 voltage,or a transformer may be included to increase the battery 30 voltage.

The battery 30 has two terminals—a positive terminal 32 and a negativeterminal 34. The positive terminal 32 and the negative terminal 34 areseparated by a separator 36. The separator 36 is a dielectric materialhat creates a voltage potential between the positive terminal 32 and thenegative terminal 34. The separator 36 may be constructed out of anon-conductive material or may be constructed out of a conductivematerial that conducts energy at currents of a particular frequency. Forexample, the battery 30 may be a conductor at direct current (DC) or lowfrequency current, but may be non-conducting at higher frequencycurrent. In this embodiment, the separator 36 also acts as a sealbetween the positive terminal 32 and the negative terminal 34 to preventthe positive terminal 32 and the negative terminal 34 fromshort-circuiting.

The wireless communication device 10 may be placed on the battery 30,and may be either placed on one of the terminals 32, 34 or across theslot 40 formed by the separator 36 between the terminals 32, 34. Anadhesive (not shown) may be used to attach the wireless communicationdevice 10 to the battery 30. The adhesive may either be conductive ornon-conductive. If the wireless communication device 10 is attacheddirectly to the surface of the battery 30 to provide a connectionbetween the terminals 32, 34 for power, a conductive adhesive may beused to facilitate a combined connection and adhesion. A non-conductiveadhesive may be also used to attach the wireless communication device 10to the battery 30. Examples of adhesives include tape, glue, and epoxy.The wireless communication device 10 includes two feed lines 38A, 38B. Afeed line 38 is any conductive connection that allows the transfer ofelectricity. The feed lines 38A, 38B connect the wireless communicationdevice 10 to the positive and negative terminals 32, 34 to provide powerto the wireless communication device 10. The wireless communicationdevice 10 is additionally grounded to the battery 30 by a feed line 38Bconnection to the negative terminal 34. An adhesive (not shown) may beused to attach the feed lines 38A, 38B firmly to the battery 30. Aconductive adhesive (not shown) may be used with the feed line 38B sincethe feed line 38B does not run across the positive terminal 32 on itsconnection path to the negative terminal 34. However, the feed line 38Bmay require a non-conductive adhesive 39A on the portion of the feedline 38B that runs across the negative terminal 38B in order to preventshort-circuiting of the positive terminal 32 and the negative terminal34. A conductive adhesive 39B may be used on the portion of the feedline 38B that runs across the positive terminal 32 to attach the feedline 38B to the positive terminal 32.

The wireless communication device 10 uses the battery 30 to provide aslot antenna 18. The battery 30 has a slot 40 created by the separator36 between the positive terminal 32 and the negative terminal 34. Thewireless communication device 10 is coupled to the slot 40 using asingle feed point 42 to form the slot antenna 18. A feed point 42 is anytype conductive connection that allows the transfer of energy. Couplingthe wireless communication device 10 to the slot 40 at or proximate toone location on the slot 40 creates an antenna radiation pattern similarto a dipole antenna. The E and H fields of the slot antenna 18 arereversed from the E and H fields of a dipole antenna (not shown).However, it should be noted that the exact radiation pattern of the slotantenna 18 may be different depending on the operating frequency andimpedance of the wireless communication device 10 and the geometry andother characteristics, including impedance of the battery 30 and theslot 40.

The feed point 42 may be constructed out of any type of conductivematerials, such as copper or aluminum. Additionally, the feed point 42may be a conductive tab like that used in a patch antenna, such asdescribed in pending patent application Ser. No. 09/678,271, previouslyreferenced above. These feed points 42 may be three millimeters in widthor less.

The feed point 42 may be attached to the battery 30 using an adhesive,such as those adhesives discussed above for the feed lines 38. Anon-conductive adhesive (not shown) is used for the portion of feedpoint 42 that runs across the negative terminal 34 of the battery 30 sothat the feed point 42 does not form a conductive connection to thenegative terminal 34.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless communication device10 that is coupled to a slot 40 to provide a dipole-like slot antenna 18with a radiation pattern similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG.2. However, the wireless communication device 10 in FIG. 3 only has onefeed line 38A to couple the wireless communication device 10 to thepositive terminal 32 for power. The feed line 38B may be a conductiveportion (not shown) provided on the wireless communication device 10directly to the negative terminal 34 of the point of attachment of thewireless communication device 10 to the battery 30. For example, thewireless communication device 10 may have a pin, if an IC chip, that isattached directly to the negative terminal 34.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the wireless communicationdevice 10 where a feed point 42 that is used to couple the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the slot 40, is also be used as a feed line38 to couple the wireless communication device 10 to the positiveterminal 32 for power. The wireless communication device 10 contains onefeed line 38 and one feed point 42. The feed point 42 may be left as anopen circuit or may be connected to the positive terminal 32. If thefeed point 42 is connected to the positive terminal 32, the wirelesscommunication device 10 can use this connection as a slot antenna 18 aswell as a connection to the battery 30 for power. If the feed point 42is connected to the positive terminal 32 for power, feed line 38provides a connection between the wireless communication device 10 andthe negative terminal 34.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless communication device10 coupled to slot 40 to provide a dipole-like antenna pattern. Thewireless communication device 10 is configured similar to the wirelesscommunication device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2; however, two feed points42A, 42B are used to couple the wireless communication device 10 to theslot 40. Use of multiple feed points 42 may be desirable to change theradiation pattern of the slot antenna 18, and/or to change receptionand/or transmission capability. Further, use of more than one feed point42 may allow the slot antenna 18 and the wireless communication device10 to operate at multiple frequencies. An example of a wirelesscommunication device using multiple feed points in a slot antenna isdisclosed in pending patent application Ser. No. 10/125,783, entitled“Multiple Feed Point Slot Antenna,” filed on Apr. 18, 2002 by theassignee of this application, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless communication device10 that is coupled to a slot 40 on the battery 30 to provide a slotantenna 18. In this embodiment, the wireless communication device 10 isplaced across the slot 40. Two feed points 42A, 42B are used; one feedpoint 42A is coupled to the positive terminal 32 and the other feedpoint 42B is coupled to the negative terminal 34. If the feed points 42are non-conductive, the wireless communication device 10 capacitivelycouples to the slot 40 between the positive terminal 32 and the negativeterminal 34 to form a slot antenna 18. If the feed points 42A, 42B areconductively coupled to the terminals 32, 34, such as through solderingor welding for example, the wireless communication device 10 may usesuch connection for both a connection to terminals 32, 34 for power andconnection to the slot 40 to provide a slot antenna 18 without need fora feed line 38.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a wireless communication device10 coupled to a slot 40 on a battery 30 to provide a slot antenna 18.The wireless communication device 10 is coupled across the slot 40 likein FIG. 6. In addition, the feed point 42B is coupled to the slot 40 ata different point than the feed point 42A. This changes the effectivelength of the slot 40 so that the slot 40 resonates at a particularfrequency of design and assists in matching the impedance of the slot 40to the impedance of wireless communication device 10 for improvedantenna 18 performance. The adhesive used for coupling the feed points42A, 42B to the slot 40 must be non-conductive in the region that thefeed points 42A, 42B cross the slot 40, or a short circuit at directcurrent will be placed across battery 30. Therefore, the feed points42A, 42B are capacatively coupled to the slot 40.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention where awireless communication device 10 is connected to a cylindrical-shapedbattery 30. The battery 30 may be a commonly available, off-the-shelfbattery, including sizes AA, AAA, C, and D. The battery 30 contains abody 31 that is covered by a sleeve 33 to encapsulate the body 31. Thesleeve 33 may be constructed out of a plastic or other encapsulatingmaterial and may be heat-shrinkable. The top of the body 31 contains thepositive terminal 32, and the bottom of the body 31 contains thenegative terminal 34. The separator 36 separates the positive terminal32 from the negative terminal 34, as previously discussed above.

In this embodiment, the wireless communication device 10 is attached inthe upper region of the battery 30 adjacent to the positive terminal 32.The wireless communication device 10 may be attached to the battery 30using an adhesive (not shown), as previously discussed. A conductiveadhesive may be used if the wireless communication device 10 isconnected directly to the positive terminal 32 without need for a feedline 38.

Feed lines are not used in this embodiment since the wirelesscommunication device 10 does not use a battery 30 to provide power. Thewireless communication device 10 either has its own internal energysource or is a passive device. One feed point 42 is used to couple thewireless communication device 10 to the slot 40 to provide a slotantenna 18.

FIG. 9 illustrates a wireless communication device 10 attached to abattery 30 similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8; however, thewireless communication device 10 uses feed lines 38A, 38B to couple thewireless communication device 10 to the positive and negative terminals32, 34 respectively for power like that illustrated in FIG. 5. Two feedpoints 42A, 42B are also provided so that the wireless communicationdevice 10 is coupled to the slot 40 at two points just as in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

The feed line 38B extends down the body 31 to the negative terminal 34.Since the body 31 is constructed out of a non-conductive material, anytype of adhesive (not shown) may be used to attach the feed line 38B tothe battery 30. However, it is more desirable to use a non-conductiveadhesive so that any devices or materials that come into contact withthe body 31 are not grounded to the negative terminal 34 unwantingly.This embodiment could also be practiced in reverse whereby the wirelesscommunication device 10 is attached to the lower portion of the battery30 at the negative terminal 34, and the feed line 38A is extended upwardto connect to the positive terminal 32. Again, any type of adhesive maybe used to attach the feed line 38A to the body 31, but a non-conductiveadhesive is more desirable.

FIG. 10 illustrates a wireless communication device 10 attachedunderneath the sleeve 33 of a battery 30 as a convenient method ofattachment. In this manner, an adhesive may not be required to securethe wireless communication device 10 to the battery 30. The wirelesscommunication device 10 may be attached underneath the sleeve 33 duringthe manufacturing process of the battery 30. In this particularembodiment, a single feed point 42 is coupled to the slot 40 to providea slot antenna 18. The wireless communication device 10 is not coupledto the terminals 32, 34 for power. However, the wireless communicationdevice 10 may use feed lines (not shown) to couple the wirelesscommunication device 10 to the terminals 32, 34 for power if desired.

The wireless communication device 10 may also be placed totally internalto a battery 30 (not illustrated). The battery 30 contains anelectrolyte plate structure. A non-conductive void area may beconstructed between the battery 30 plates, and the wirelesscommunication device 10 may be placed in this void. The wirelesscommunication device 10 may be connected to the positive and negativeterminals 32, 34 for power and/or to the slot 40 to provide a slotantenna 18.

The present invention also allows recharging of the energy source 17illustrated in FIG. 1 if the wireless communication device 10 is coupledto terminals 32, 34. External radio-frequency signals received by thewireless communication device 10 may contain energy. Since the wirelesscommunication device 10 is capable of receiving energy from an externalradio frequency signal through its antenna 18, the wirelesscommunication device 10 may recharge the battery 30 using suchenergy-bearing radio-frequency signal 26 rather than directly connectingthe wireless communication device 10 to a power source. More informationon recharging systems for energy sources is disclosed in co-pendingProvisional Patent Application No. 60/375,247 entitled “Energy sourcerecharging device and method,” filed on the same day as the presentinvention and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, andattached hereto as an Appendix.

The energy-bearing radio-frequency signal 26 may be generated by aninterrogation reader 20 located nearby the wireless communication device10, or by a remote radio-frequency transmitter. The wirelesscommunication device 10 uses the energy in the energy-bearingradio-frequency signal 26 to recharge the energy source 17, which may bea battery 30. The antenna 18 receives the energy-bearing radio-frequencysignal 26 that is used to recharge the energy source 17, and the antenna18 may be any type of antenna, including a pole antenna or a slotantenna.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to any particulartype of wireless communication device 10 and its components, theinterrogation reader 20 and its components, energy source 17, slot 40,feed lines 48, feed points 42, etc. For the purposes of thisapplication, couple, coupled, or coupling is defined as either a directconnection or a reactive coupling. Reactive coupling is defined aseither capacitive or inductive coupling.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are differentmanners in which these elements can provide to accomplish the presentinvention. The present invention is intended to cover what is claimedand any equivalents. The specific embodiments used herein are to aid inthe understanding of the present invention, and should not be used tolimit the scope of the invention in a manner narrower than the claimsand their equivalents.

1. A wireless communication energy source system comprising: an energysource comprising a body having a first and a second terminal separatedby a separator forming a slot between said first and second terminals;and a wireless communication device coupled to said slot to form a slotantenna for wireless communication; wherein said wireless communicationdevice is coupled to said slot using at least one feed point; andwherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said first andsecond terminals using at least one feed line to provide power to thewireless communication device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein saidwireless communication device is coupled to said first terminal using afirst of said at least one feed line and said wireless communicationdevice is directly coupled to said second terminal through a conductiveportion of said wireless communication device.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein said wireless communication device comprises a pin and saidwireless communication device is directly coupled to said secondterminal using said pin.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said wirelesscommunication device is coupled to said first terminal using a firstfeed line and said second terminal using a second feed line.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein said first feed line coupled to said firstterminal comprises a conductive adhesive and said second feed linecoupled to said second terminal comprises a conductive adhesive.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein said first feed line further comprises aportion of non-conductive adhesive, said conductive adhesive portion ofsaid first feed line coupled to said first terminal and saidnon-conductive adhesive portion of said first feed line coupled to saidsecond terminal.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said wirelesscommunication device is coupled to said slot using a first of said atleast one feed point, said first feed point comprising a conductiveadhesive.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interrogatoradapted to communicate information wirelessly with said wirelesscommunication device.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein saidinterrogator emits a signal to said wireless communication device topower said wireless communication device.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein said signal recharges said energy source.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein said interrogator communicates to said wirelesscommunication device to transfer information.
 12. A wirelesscommunication energy source system comprising: an energy sourcecomprising a body having a first and a second terminal separated by aseparator forming a slot between said first and second terminals; and awireless communication device coupled across said slot to form a slotantenna for wireless communication.
 13. The system of claim 12, furthercomprising first and second feed points coupled to said wirelesscommunication device, wherein said first and second feed points arecoupled to said first and second terminals, respectively.
 14. The systemof claim 13, wherein said first and second feed points arenon-conductive in a region that said feed points cross said slot. 15.The system of claim 12, further comprising an interrogator adapted tocommunication information wirelessly with said wireless communicationdevice.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said interrogator emits asignal to said wireless communication device to power said wirelesscommunication device.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said signalrecharges said energy source.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein saidinterrogator communicates to said wireless communication device totransfer information.
 19. A wireless communication energy source systemcomprising: an energy source comprising a body having a positiveterminal and a negative terminal separated by a separator forming a slotbetween said positive and negative terminals; a sleeve coupled to saidbody; and a wireless communication device coupled to said slot using atleast one feed point to provide a slot antenna for wirelesscommunication.
 20. The system of claim 19, further comprising aconductive adhesive to directly connect said wireless communicationdevice to said positive terminal.
 21. The system of claim 19, whereinsaid wireless communication device is coupled to said slot beneath saidsleeve.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said wireless communicationdevice is coupled to said positive and negative terminals using firstand second feed lines to provide power to the wireless communicationdevice.
 23. The system of claim 19, further comprising an interrogatoradapted to communicate information wirelessly with said wirelesscommunication device.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein saidinterrogator emits a signal to said wireless communication device topower said wireless communication device.
 25. The system of claim 24,wherein said signal recharges said energy source.
 26. The system ofclaim 23, wherein said interrogator communicates to said wirelesscommunication device to transfer information.
 27. A method of providinga slot antenna for a wireless communication device comprising: providingan energy source having a first and a second terminal separated by aseparator and a slot created by said separator in said energy source;and coupling the wireless communication device to said slot to form aslot antenna; wherein coupling said wireless communication device tosaid slot comprises: coupling said wireless communication device to saidslot using at least one feed point; and coupling said wirelesscommunication device to said first and second terminals using at leastone feed line to provide power to the wireless communication device. 28.The method of claim 27, wherein coupling said wireless communicationdevice to said first and second terminals comprises coupling saidwireless communication device to said first terminal using a first ofsaid at least one feed line and coupling said wireless communicationdevice directly to said second terminal through a conductive portion ofsaid wireless communication device.
 29. The method of claim 27, whereincoupling said wireless communication device to said first and secondterminals comprises coupling said wireless communication device to saidfirst terminal using a first feed line and coupling said wirelesscommunication device to said second terminal using a second feed line.30. A method of providing a slot antenna for a wireless communicationdevice comprising: providing an energy source having a first and asecond terminal separated by a separator and a slot created by saidseparator in said energy source; and coupling the wireless communicationdevice across said slot to form a slot antenna for wirelesscommunication.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein coupling saidwireless communication device across said slot comprises coupling saidwireless communication device to said first terminal via a first feedpoint and to said second terminal via a second feed point.
 32. A methodof providing a slot antenna for a wireless communication devicecomprising: providing an energy source having a positive and a negativeterminal in a body, said positive and negative terminals separated by aseparator, a sleeve coupled to said body, and a slot created by saidseparator in said energy source; and coupling the wireless communicationdevice to said slot using at least one feed point to provide a slotantenna for wireless communication.
 33. The method of claim 32, whereincoupling said wireless communication device to said slot comprisescoupling said wireless communication device to said slot beneath saidsleeve.
 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising coupling saidwireless communication device to said positive and negative terminalsusing first and second feed lines to provide power to said wirelesscommunication device.